Trade shows are one of the best ways to increase your company’s visibility, encourage growth, and generate leads. They are also one of the most complex ways to brand your company, so you should start planning immediately. Proper organization for a low-stress trade show should start at least a year in advance, and there are several stages to consider. If you’re wondering how to plan an expo, check out our timeline detailing each stage of the planning process. 12 Months Out: Determine Your Goal: If you haven’t already, now is the time to determine why you’re attending, what your goals and objectives are, and what role the show will play in your company’s overall marketing strategy for the upcoming year. Determine Your KPI’s: Determine how you’ll measure your company’s performance at the show and what metrics you’ll use to calculate ROI. Set a Budget: A realistic budget should include pre-and post-show preparations, your pre-show, and trade show marketing campaign, travel, hotel, and shipping costs for your event booth and equipment. 9 Months Out: Secure Your Spot: The earlier you register, the better, so nine months prior is the time to do so. This is also the time to start thinking about your event booth design and develop that plan based on the space you secure. Start reviewing floor plans for any shows/conventions you plan to attend. You’ll want to check height, sound, signage regulations and the like, which will help you hone in on your booth design specifications and size limitations. Develop Your Marketing Plan: This is the ideal time to start developing promotional items, mailers, fliers, direct mail, and perhaps a landing page on your company website to inform your customers and prospective clients that you’ll be there. 6 Months Out: Design Your Booth: This is the time to carefully think through a detailed booth design and your trade show material. Since you registered and secured your space three months ago, you should know the lay of the land and floor plan by now. You’ll need to make sure your exhibit complies with the show’s sound and space regulations and design its dimensions accordingly. Design Marketing Material: What components and features do you want to showcase? There are a lot of things to consider for your trade show material including signage, technology, banners, and whether you’d like to rent or buy a booth. Knowing your client base and how you’d like to reach them will aid you in this process. 3 Months Out: Order Marketing Material: You’re getting close,...

It’s no secret that the best trade show, clocking in at over 170k visitors and millions of exhibition space, is the Consumer Electronic Show (CES). From there, there are literally hundreds of other trade shows, expos, and fairs for your business to see and be seen. If you’re a trade show booth exhibitor you’re ready and eager to promote your products or services and maybe you’re not quite sure which events to attend. Don’t put the cart before the proverbial horse; first plan on what trade show or shows are the best fit for your business and where your ideal prospective buyers will be. If your business offers complete home care services, even the CES won’t be the best trade show bet for your time, money and effort. Consider which events would garner the best bang for your buck, the best exposure, and ideally – customers. Here are some extra tips on determining a trade show’s benefit. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place! We’ve come up with a list of top trade shows across Phoenix and North America. First, here are the 5 Top Trade Shows in Phoenix Phoenix Small Business Expo The Phoenix Small Business Expo is a large business-to-business trade show, conference, and networking event that promotes the entrepreneurial spirit. The expo is free to all attendees, and the industries that exhibit cover almost all areas of business. From tax planning, to eCommerce, this expo is the optimal place for business owners to learn and grow their business. Creativation Connect with new buyers, suppliers, designers, makers, bloggers, media representatives, and entrepreneurs from around the world at Creativation. This trade show fills the needs of the creative communities across the globe! Do you sell high-quality craft supplies that you want to get into the hands of vendors? Come to this fun and creative convention to network and grow your business. AZ Brew Con This convention is a one-day trade show for those in the craft beer community who are looking to make connections and open doors. If you’re in the business of brews, this is the trade show for you. Making beer can be a difficult process, and making good beer can be even more challenging; experienced veterans attend this event to answer your questions in a variety of panels. For those in the craft beer community, this is the event for your trade show booth. Indoor Custom Car Super Show & Concert Is your business focused on custom cars? If so, this trade...